We Believe

We believe the Bible can be summed up in three words:

God’s Rescue Plan

GOD

The God of the Bible has always been, He will always be. He is eternal, uncreated, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present and completely sovereign over all things. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the triune God, existing in perfect relationship, fellowship and community with Himself. All things that exist were made by Him, those things that are seen and unseen. “God created humanity not from a lack or need but from a desire to bring Himself glory. This fact defines humanity’s ultimate reason for being: bringing more and more glory to God.

RESCUE

When a rescue is required, a tragic event has most likely occurred. There is no more tragic event in human history than what is recorded in Genesis 3. God’s idyllic creation is thrown into chaos and man’s intimate relationship with God is severed.

PLAN

Only God could rescue man. Since that moment in the garden, man has attempted to rescue himself. He has created other gods (idols) to worship. In modern times these idols are not statues on a mantel, but they are idols of relationships, career, success, power, wealth, leisure, etc. The point is this: man is trying to rescue himself. He is trying to find salvation within himself (by being a really good person) or by worshiping something in creation, as Romans 1.25 indicates. Man cannot rescue himself.

Below are 10 belief statements. These beliefs are the foundation of everything we do at Life Chapel.

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Scriptures are the divinely inspired Word of God and our infallible rule of faith and practice.

Throughout all 66 books, the Bible had 40+ writers, and @1,400 years there is one author, God. He spoke His inspired Word through prophets and human writers and that Word has relevance to how we live today. (Hebrews 1:1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

GOD

We believe the God of the Bible is the One and Only true God.

God made the world & everything in it. He made man in His image and to have fellowship with Him. He depends on no other being for His existence. He exists eternally as one God in three persons – Father, Son & Holy Spirit; a mystery beyond our understanding. He is perfectly good and acts according to His own good pleasure, including the plan of salvation which is offered because of His great mercy toward us. (Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; Matthew 3:16-17; Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:3).

JESUS

We believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Savior of mankind.

Fully God He eternally existed with the Father & the Holy Spirit, possessing all of the attributes of God. Even while Incarnate, Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:5), accepted worship (John 20:28) and taught of His unique relationship with the Father (John 10:30). Fully Man Born of a virgin, He lived in submission to His earthly parents, had a fully human body, grew in stature and wisdom (Luke 2:4), learned a trade (Mark 6:3) and experienced all of the temptations we experience (Hebrews A Perfect Life Without sin; all of His actions were as they should be. He obeyed the Father (John 5:19; Luke 22:42), spoke the words of the Father (John 12:50) and experienced temptation but did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). His Atoning Death He was sent by the Father especially to die for us (Mark 10:45; John 3:16-18). His life was a ransom for us, to set us free from sin (1 Timothy 2:6). By His death, He paid the penalty for our sin, enduring God’s wrath agains us for our sin (Romans 3:25-26, 4:25). His Resurrection, ascension, return On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, demonstrating God’s acceptance of His sacrifice for all those who would repent and believe (Romans 1:4, 4:25). He ascended to heaven and will one day return (Acts 1:11). Christ’s return will bring God’s plan of salvation to completion (Romans 8:21, 2 Peter 3:7-13, Revelation 21:1-22:6.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity.

We don’t ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” We ask the question, “What is Jesus doing?” because we believe God is at work through His Holy Spirit: • In our world, convicting the world of sin (John 16:8) • In our lives, through inner transformation (Ezekiel 36:25-27, John 3:5-8, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Galatians 5:22-23) & empowerment (Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 1:13-17, Acts 1:4-8, 2:38, 8:4-25, 10:44-46). • In His Church, through the gifts of the Spirit given to encourage the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12-14).

THE GOSPEL

We believe man was created good (in the image of God) but voluntarily rebelled against God and stands in need of salvation.

The Gospel is the “good news” that God has provided salvation for all who place faith in Jesus Christ. God’s gift of salvation has been given to Christians, but the evidence of that salvation is lived out in the continual work of God’s Spirit. The Gospel isn’t a sin management tool or an instrument of social justice – it is both. The Gospel means we are transformed people who are transforming our world. (1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 2:1-10). Our response is to turn to God, to repent and orient our lives toward God (Acts 26:20, 20:21), turn away from sin (Galatians 5:17; Acts 11:18), believe and trust in God’s promises in Christ and commit ourselves to Him as His disciples (Mark 1:15, Romans 3:21-26, Philippians 3:9). The Gospel reflected in our lives means that we have been saved from the penalty of our sins; we are currently being saved from the power of sin; and one day, when God’s plan of salvation is completed and we are with Christ, we will be like Him and we will be saved from the presence of sin.

COMMUNION

We believe that observing communion is a regular practice of the Church and one we participate in with an attitude of humility and gratitude.

Communion was instituted by Christ Himself (Luke 22:14-22) and Christians are encouraged to participate in communion as remembrance of Christ’s work on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

BAPTISM

We believe in baptism in water by immersion for every believer.

Water baptism is an outward testimony of what has happened inwardly with the experience of salvation. • It represents our dying to the old nature & living in the resurrection power of Christ (Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 4:21-24). • It’s a public confession of Jesus’ Lordship in my life (Galatians 2:20). • It’s an obedient response to Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19). • Every born again Christian should be baptized (Acts 2:38). • Baptism is by immersion per the examples set in Scripture (Jesus – Matthew 3:13-16; Philip & the Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:36-38) • We baptize in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)

DIVINE HEALING

We believe that just as Jesus healed people while on earth, God heals people today.

God didn’t stop working in our world once Jesus ascended into heaven. The healing and deliverance that Jesus brought to those who sought Him is available to us today. We believe that when we pray, God hears us and has the ability to answer our prayers. When we have a need, we pray for each other, knowing that He is sovereign to act in ways that align with His purpose for each of us. (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, Mark 16:18, James 5:13-16, 1 John 5:15).

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.

The point of our individual lives is to point to Him, to bring Him glory. The point of our existence as a corporate entity is also to point to Him. To proclaim to the world, through our love of God and each other, that God is real, His Word is true, and His love is life-changing. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).